Gothamist

It’s Cobble Hill’s equivalent of the Standard Hotel; a local couple have renovated their townhouse to include a glass shower, which is visible to neighbors who aren’t even being nosy. And today they’ve gained further notoriety by becoming Gothamist’s Talk of the Block. Congrats! And keep it clean.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/9036

Eleven designs were presented to the Brooklyn Bridge Park in June 2013, and team 11, or the Alloy/Monadnock team won. The development at John Street will include new parkland, to include pedestrian bridges over a tidal salt marsh, tree-lined pathways, and a 13,000-square-foot gathering lawn. The 12 story residential building will include 47 apartments and cultural and retail space on the ground floor, to be occupied by the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. The building will comprise a total of 96,440 square feet, 2,650 square feet of ground floor retail and 1,750 square feet of cultural space for the Brooklyn Children’s Museum annex.

More photos at DUMBONYC.

Source: Dumbo NYC
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DumboNyc/~3/y98OAqDYHQw/

Real estate investment firm RFR and Kushner Companies today announced that they have entered into a contract to acquire six properties in Brooklyn from the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society for $375 million. According to the press release (July 8, 2013), Jared Kushner (of Kushner Companies), Aby Rosen (of RFR), and Asher Abehsera (a former Two Trees Management Company executive) teamed up to purchase the portfolio of buildings which total 1.2 million square feet of commercial space. The buildings include:

• 117 Adams Street
• 175 Pearl Street
• 55 Prospect Street
• 81 Prospect Street
• 77 Sands Street
• 90 Sands Street

These buildings are included as part of the Brooklyn Tech Triangle master plan and could be key buildings in the development of the plan for creating appropriate commercial space and connectors between Dumbo, Navy Yards, and Downtown Brooklyn.

90 Sands Street is a 30 story, 500+ room residential building will be turned over vacant at closing in September, according to a NY Post story.

According to the Post, the Jehovah’s Witnesses moved their headquarters to Brooklyn in 1909. As part of their plans to move to Warwick, NY, they have been selling off a 34-building portfolio, including lots in Dumbo at 173 and 177 Front Street as well as 200 Water Street in April 2013.

(175 Pearl Street)

(90 Sands Street, Photo by a.pitch)

Related:
{The Watchtower Moving Some Operations from Brooklyn, 26Mar2009}
{Watchtower Properties in Dumbo?, 29Sept2011}
{Jehovah’s Witness Buildings Could Offset Brooklyn Bridge Park Costs, 08Oct2010}

Source: Dumbo NYC
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DumboNyc/~3/zlCNVc-KU9I/

Cobble Hill resident Carl Foner’s Change.org petition asking J. Crew to set up shop somewhere else and not displace the Pacific Green Gourmet market from 151 Court Street has topped 1300 signatures. Earlier this week Foner wrote to supporters when the list hit 1250:

We’ve reached 1250 signatures!

We’ve reached 1250 signatures so far. Thanks everyone for signing the petition, sharing information, and spreading the word. Thank you also to those who have offered ideas and suggestions. It’s great to see this community coming together to work towards something we care about.

We’ve gotten a lot of good press since the last update: Brooklyn Bugle, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Grub Street, and more. (See our Facebook page for more details.) It’s great to see the story spread.

We’re continuing to press forward. We’ll be sure to keep you up to date with any more news. And feel free to pass along any news you encounter as well.

Thanks again!

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/8913

Cobble Hill resident Carl Foner’s Change.org petition asking J. Crew not to displace the Pacific Green Gourmet store at 151 Court Street has now reached over 700 signatures. He’s now launched a companion Facebook page to spread the work and to garner support.

Foner’s latest petition update reads:

The more people who sign the petition, the more influence we can have. So don’t forget to share the petition with your friends. Sharing personal stories (on Facebook, your blog, etc.) about what Pacific Green means to you is also a great way to spread the word.

Thanks for doing everything you can to get the word out.

Foner first informed the neighborhood about the petition in a Cobble Hill Blog comment on June 9, the night his quest began. The next day we received a passionate and compelling email from him detailing why he’s getting involved — “[When} I heard the news and my heart sank,” he wrote.

The Brooklyn Eagle picked up the story yesterday –

Brooklyn Eagle: As of Monday morning, more than 700 Pacific Green supporters had signed a petition at Change.org imploring J Crew to put their store elsewhere.

“When I heard the news that J.Crew was moving to the corner of Pacific and Court where my beloved grocer now lives I was heartbroken,” writes Alexis Anselmi. “This cannot happen and I will do everything I can to stop it! Pacific Green is a staple in this neighborhood.”

Elizabeth Fountain wrote that she moved to Cobble Hill ten years ago for the “mom and pop feel.”

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/8845

Back in September 28 2012, the Brooklyn Bridge Park issued a request for proposals to develop the Empire Stores building for the long-term lease, rehabilitation and operation of commercial and retail development in the historic structures (no condos). Submissions were due in December 2012, and 10 proposals were submitted. They were presented to the committee on March 19, 2013. Final selection to be decided this summer 2013.

The building is located within the Fulton Ferry Historic District and eligible for listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Empire Stores was closed by New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in 2008 after OGS determined that existing building conditions made the building uninhabitable without significant renovations.

The RFP required respondents to submit conceptual plans that demonstrate thoughtful adaptive reuse of the structures, responsiveness to the site design guidelines and a level of design that is on par with the investment made on the part of the public sector.

The full presentation of responses are posted on BrooklynBridgePark.org website. The ten teams presented the following renderings:

(Team 1)

(Team 1)

(Team 2)

(Team 2)

(Team 3)

(Team 3)

(Team 4)

(Team 4)

(Team 5)

(Team 5)

(Team 6)

(Team 6)

(Team 7)

(Team 7)

(Team 8)

(Team 8)

(Team 9)

(Team 9)

(Team 10)

(Team 10)

Which one(s) are your favorite proposals?

Related:
{Brooklyn Bridge Park Issues a Request to Develop Empire Stores, 02Oct2012}
{Empire Stores on Endangered List, 05Dec2008}

Source: Dumbo NYC
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DumboNyc/~3/6WQJOVsJ84w/

The Brooklyn Heights Association urges us all to write, call, or e-mail (or all three) Governor Cuomo asking his help to save Long Island College Hospital. While acknowledging that there are allegedly seven suitors possibly interested in buying LICH, nevertheless:

SUNY Downstate has failed to turn over the LICH financial records parties have requested. Moreover, SUNY Downstate has made representations about LICH finances that are simply not true. Without open books, potential suitors cannot evaluate LICH’s economic viability — and there is no assurance that the disposition of LICH will be a fair one. SUNY Downstate’s actions have revived fears that its real goal is to sell the land to a real estate developer.

Instructions on how to contact the Governor are on the BHA website.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/8799

Sure Lululemon may have just lost its CEO, sending its stock plummeting as we speak but come this Friday (6/14) Cobble Hill will be blessed with one of its stores at the spanking new 166 Smith Street. Have no fear, those transparent yoga pants are so totally not available anymore.

Here’s the full rundown from their Facebook page:

FRIDAY:

Complimentary coffee, ice cream and pastries from Brooklyn-based Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream (first come, first served)

Candle light Yoga from 8:30-9:30PM with Mala Yoga instructor and past showroom ambassador Daniella Rosales- Friedman.

SATURDAY:

Complimentary juice and smoothies from Green Pirate Juice Truck (first come, first served)

Run Club from 9-10AM. 3-4 miler to Brooklyn Bridge Park with Brooklyn triathlete coach Mike Olzinski.

SUNDAY:

Complimentary Kombucha Brooklyn (first come, first served)

Sunday morning yoga from 9-10AM with store ambassador, Prana Power Yoga and Prema Yoga instructor Be Shakti. Featuring live music!

Celebration for Father’s Day! 1-3PM demo with Columbia Street CrossFit owner and coach Nate and complimentary pizza from South Brooklyn Pizza.

**We will also be giving away passes for lucky guests to “experience the neighborhood.”

Experience the neighborhood? Hmmm…

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/8775

Curbed first reported that the Dumbo Townhouses at 55-57 Pearl Street (aka 169 Water Street) is listed for $4.1 million each. Sotheby’s is listing the 18′ wide, 5 story townhouse. There are 5 townhouses – four are 3,049 square feet and one is 3,358 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 3 full baths. At $4.1 million, or $1344/sqft for the 3,049 sqft townhouse are asking more than recent closing prices for 1 Main Street (which are closing at $1,000 – 1,250 per sqft, according to recorded sales in the past month).

Related:
{More Details About Dumbo Townhouses Revealed}
{Pearl Street Townhouse on the Market, 10jun2013, Brownstoner}
{Inside Dumbo’s First Houses, Now Available for $4.1M Apiece, 09jun2013, Curbed}

Source: Dumbo NYC
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DumboNyc/~3/QGKbXWedvqA/

Back in December 2012, the Brooklyn Bridge Park issued a request for proposals to develop the 1 John Street, the section of John Street between Adams and Pearl Street of the park for residential development. Con Edison sold the 3.4 acres between John Street and the East River that it has owend for half a century in January 2013. Con Edison says its total investment in the property over the years is about $600,000, but the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation has agreed to pay $9.2 million for it. Revenue from a 96-year lease on the land under the building would help pay for the purchase.

Curbed reported that there are 11 condo designs that were presented with “the stated goals of the project to “enliven the northern entrance of the park,” build “high-quality, visually appealing residential development,” and “seamlessly integrate the park and the surrounding community.” The site allows for a maximum height of 130 feet, up to 130 residential units (101,000 sq ft of residential space), ground floor retail, and up to 110 parking spaces. The winning respondents will be selected this summer.

Which one should the park choose?

(Team 1)

(Team 2)

(Team 3)

(Team 4)

(Team 5)

(Team 6)

(Team 7)

(Team 8)

(Team 9)

(Team 10)

(Team 11)

For full RFP presentation, go to Project Approvals and Presentations, BrooklynBridgePark.org

Source: Dumbo NYC
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DumboNyc/~3/e_ICMXZ5xTg/

The Pacific Green Gourmet Shop at 151 Court Street appears to be losing its lease according to a report from The Real Deal. Clothing giant J. Crew is rumored to be taking the space as the area around Court Street and Atlantic Avenue continues to evolve into a shopping destination. Trader Joe’s and Barney’s have opened outlet in the vicinity in the last couple of years and the trend does not seem to be slowing down.

The Real Deal: As part of the further transformation of retail shopping in Brooklyn, the global apparel chain J. Crew is coming to a two-story building in Cobble Hill, according to two people familiar with the transaction.
The retailer signed a 10-year net lease last week for the building at 151 Court Street on the corner of Pacific Street, though some details still need to be ironed out, one person familiar with the deal said. J. Crew would take 2,349 square feet each on the ground floor, lower level and second floor.
J. Crew is not the only national retailer to move into the neighborhood. Trader Joe’s on Court Street and Barney’s Co-op, a lower cost unit of the designer department store, on Atlantic Avenue, are also nearby tenants.
The asking rent for the space was approximately $520,000 annually for a triple net lease, one source said.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/8663

Real estate broker aptsandlofts.com, which recently opened its second brick-and-mortar office in Cobble Hill at 236 Court Street, is making good on the burgeoning residential market in the neighborhood. The firm reports that within the last three months it has hired a dozen new agents—a rate of one new hire per week.

Founder & prez David Maundrell notes, “We are seeing a notable increase in interest from agents looking to join the team as a way to further expand their professional business in the Brooklyn area.” aptsandlofts.com was founded in 2002 with a focus on Brooklyn and Queens, and currently consults about 35 new residential developments (3,000+ units) rising in NYC. It plans to hire a total of 43 agents in Cobble Hill over the next year.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/8247

At the end of this month, Italian Superette Good Food will shut down after 85 years in business. Located in Carroll Gardens at 431 Court Street (between 3rd and 4th Place), the store has supplied fresh mozzarella, Italian sausages, olives and other Italian delicacies, along with a deli and meat counter. Good Food also carried everything from canned goods to cleaning products and everything in between.

Pardon Me For Asking blog adds that the business first belonged to the Bruno brothers, relatives of NY City Office Of Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Bruno. Then brothers Mike and Allegrino Sale bought the supermarket and the building, and have managed it for the past 35 years.

Pardon Me—which interviewed the owners—also reports that representatives of Investors Bank have made the brothers “an offer they could not refuse” for the property. The Jersey-based bank will open a branch at the location.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/8240

The beloved Leske’s Scandinavian Bakery in Bay Ridge will be opening a second location in Park Slope, at 588 5th Avenue, a space last occupied by Sweet Treasures Bakery. Leske’s has been a Brooklyn institution since 1961, and has 5,700+ Facebook followers, reports the South Slope News.

The bakery is renowned for traditional Scandinavian baking, Danish, B&W cookies and Brooklyn blackout cakes. According to its Facebook page, the South Slope location will open before Valentine’s Day. (Photo: South Slope News)

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/8177